Archive for the ‘Joba Chamberlain’ Category
Sunday, March 9th, 2008
So, you’re diligently preparing for your fantasy draft and searching desperately for this year’s Ryan Braun – the rookie fantasy sleeper stud that takes everyone by surprise and catapults your squad to a championship. Unfortunately, all you can find are experts’ “Top 100 Prospect” lists, which include prospects that are still a year or two away, or so-called “Sleeper” lists consisting of 2nd and 3rd year players that everyone in your league has already heard of (and are already planning to draft before you). What if – hypothetically – someone had organized a constantly updated list of rookie fantasy sleepers, tiered by starting status, ranked by predicted fantasy impact, and linked to recent news on each rookie, that you could have running in the background of your draft as a quick reference?
Tags: 2008 MLB Fantasy Sleepers, 2008 Rookie Fantasy Sleepers, baseball prospects, Baseball Rookies, Baseball Sleepers, Fantasy Baseball Draft, Fantasy Sleepers, MLB Prospect News, MLB Sleepers, Prospects, Rookies, Sleepers
Posted in 1B, 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, 2B, 3B, Adam Miller, Alexei Ramirez, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Wood, C, CF, Callix Crabbe, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Gomez, Chase Headley, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Kershaw, Colby Rasmus, Daric Barton, Edinson Volquez, Evan Longoria, Franklin Morales, Geovany Soto, Gio Gonzalez, Hiroki Kuroda, Homer Bailey, Ian Kennedy, Ian Stewart, J.R. Towles, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jair Jurrjens, Jay Bruce, Jayson Nix, Jeff Clement, Jeff Niemann, Joba Chamberlain, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Kosuke Fukudome, LF, Luke Hochevar, MLBPN Top Prospects, Manny Parra, Matt Antonelli, Nick Blackburn, OF, P, RF, RP, SP, SS, Steve Pearce | No Comments »
Friday, March 7th, 2008
- Joba Chamberlain took some lumps in his two innings on Wednesday, allowing a walk, two hits, and two earned runs courtesy of a deep two-run jack by Twins outfielder Garrett Jones. Chamberlain and Yankees manager Joe Girardi were philosophical about the 22-year old’s “learning experience.”
- Ian Kennedy, who historically has had little trouble locating his fastball, left one over the plate for his old buddy Delmon Young to dispatch over the center field fence on Wednesday. For his first appearance against professional hitters this spring, it was an otherwise decent two-inning outing. Kennedy is expected to fill a spot on the back end of the Yankees rotation to start the season, a quick rise to the show for the Yankees’ top pick in 2006.
- Brian Hoch of MLB.com writes that 2004 first-round pick Phil Hughes has put a little more zip on his fastball, and is headed for the Yankees’ starting rotation.
- The Yankees have an abundance of young talent in their minor league system, primarily pitching, that led their Double-A Trenton team to the Eastern League title last year. Two are making comebacks from Tommy John surgery: Mark Melancon, a 9th round pick in 2006 out of Arizona, and Humberto Sanchez, who before surgery posted a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts for Double-A Erie, and a 3.86 ERA for Triple-A Toledo with 1.06 K/IP. Dellin Betances, a 2006 draft pick out of high school, is making a comeback from forearm tightness that ended his 2007 season prematurely.
Tags: Dellin Betances, Humberto Sanchez, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Melancon, MLB Prospect News, Phil Hughes, Yankees Prospects
Posted in Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, P, Yankees Prospects | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
According to Tyler Kepner of The New York Times, Mike Mussina doesn’t see the point in limiting young pitchers.
“They’re an asset, and you have to take care of your assets. At the same time, they’re not 19-year-old kids, either. They’re certainly capable of doing it. You just have to see how they’re doing in August.”
Ironic, since it will soon be a young pitcher that will be taking his spot in the rotation, maybe as early as this season. In the same breath, Mussina says that he hopes that Joba Chamberlain will remain the setup man for a while, saying:
“I like what Joba was doing last year. That’s a pretty big role, too, getting to the closer. You look in the post-season, the teams that can fill in that space from the starter to the closer are the teams that do well.”
That seems to conflict a bit with Mussina’s previous stance, since leaving a pitcher of Chamberlain’s caliber in merely a setup role is practically the definition of “limiting a young pitcher”.
Is it possible that the real reason Mussina wants Chamberlain to stay the setup-man is because he knows he could be the odd-man-out of the rotation? With Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, and Chamberlain starting that would leave Ian Kennedy and Mussina to duke it out for the fifth spot. Kennedy is a 24-year-old top prospect in the organization, and part of a powerful young trio that Manager Joe Girardi would like to keep together for a long time. What’s more, according to Gerry Fraley of Sportingnews.com it is Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s plan to have more than 70 starts by pitchers 25 or younger this season.
Things do not look good for Moose, who has been roughed up already this spring for 5 runs in 2 innings. Even though the Yankees are paying him $11.5 million this year and will be counting on him as a starter to open the season, it wouldn’t surprise us to see him lose his job if he can’t pull it together when winning games becomes a priority… which it always is for the Yankees. Fantasy owners should pick up low-risk-high-reward Ian Kennedy in the final rounds of the draft and wait patiently to see how things pan out.
Tags: Baseball Sleepers, Fantasy Sleepers, MLB Prospects, Prospects, Sleepers
Posted in 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, RP, SP, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Phil Hughes took down University of South Florida Friday in an 11-4 victory in a taste of whats to come. George A. King III of the New York Post relates that the three are relieved none of them were traded for Johan Santana and are looking to reward the Yankees for sticking with them.
Chamberlain got the start (even though he will be starting the season as Mariano Rivera’s setup man) and retired all six batters he faced, striking out two of them. Kennedy also worked two scoreless innings and gave up a single, the only hit allowed by the trio. Hughes struck out two in one inning of work.
Part of their success can be attributed to Andy Pettitte’s early morning workout routine with the young pitchers. Chamberlain, Kennedy, and Hughes have been participating every morning in Pettitte’s “starter’s program for stamina” to get them ready for the physical rigors of pitching every few days.
Fantasy-wise, it appears that Ian Kennedy is slated to start fifth right now behind Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, and Mussina, assuming that Chamberlain starts in the bullpen like everyone says. If that remains the case you can expect some pretty solid numbers from Kennedy with the massive run support the Yank’s bats will provide (i.e. Wins). If you’re worried about Kennedy getting bumped from the rotation if Chamberlain moves into that role mid-season, I wouldn’t be. At this point, aging Mike Mussina (who allowed 5 runs on 6 hits in 2 IP yesterday) would probably be the first to go.
Tags: Baseball, baseball prospects, Fantasy Sleepers, Joba Chamberlain, MLB Prospect News, MLB Prospects, Prospects, Sleepers
Posted in 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, RP, SP, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
Was watching Baseball Tonight yesterday (how happy are you that it’s back?), and they had Joba Chamberlain on for a portion of it. It seems a bit odd that a prospect would get a 10 minute session of the season’s inaugural BT episode, but that’s the sensation that ‘In Joba We Trust’ has become. A few brief notes from the interview:
Chamberlain is excited about starting in the pen, and doesn’t seem in any way perturbed that he’s not in the rotation. He said there is no timetable that he’s aware of for him to join the rotation. He also notes that Joe Girardi is whipping everyone into shape in a spring training players are referring to as boot camp. Joba also brought a needy family to Disney World with him; I think I counted 3 ‘A Bug’s Life’ jokes from the BT team in reference to the gnats now of post-season lore.
John Kruk and Eric Young think the Yankees should keep Joba as a setup man this season to prepare him to take over the closer role from Rivera. Meanwhile Steve Phillips thinks his arm is too valuable to keep in the bullpen. He thinks both Joba and Philip Hughes should start the season in the rotation. While I understand the benefit of shortening the game by having a near automatic 8th and 9th with Joba and Rivera, I tend to agree with Phillips on this one; he’s just too good a talent to keep in the bullpen. Chamberlain also mentioned in the interview that he will be adding a new pitch to his repertoire this season. Perhaps a knuckler?
Tags: Joba Chamberlain, MLB Prospects, New York Yankees, Yankees
Posted in 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, Joba Chamberlain, MLBPN Top Prospects, P, RP, Top 5 Prospects, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Friday, February 29th, 2008
First there was Bennifer. Then Brangelina. And now? Jobaphilian. Don’t worry, we didn’t come up with the nickname (we wouldn’t do that to you), we’re just reporting it. Jobaphilian, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, is the young Yankees pitching triumvirate of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy. While every baseball fan in America is no doubt hoping that the nickname won’t be successful, chances are the trio will. All are expected to play major roles this year, and their ability to carry the Yankees through the post-season will most likely be the deciding factor on whether the team brings home another championship. No one is more aware of this fact then GM Brian Cashman:
“Obviously, each of these individuals are symbols of what our hope is for the future,” [said Cashman.] “We’re certainly counting on a lot and asking a lot from Joba, Phil and Ian. I also think they know that.”
“This isn’t sneaking up on them. They’re on their journey, and their careers are under way.”
If you’re looking to own part or all of the three-headed Bronx monster come fantasy draft day, expect 140 or so innings from Joba (who will start in a setup role) with a low ERA and high K/IP, and some top 100 numbers from Hughes and Kennedy.
Tags: Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, MLB Prospects, Philip Hughes, Yankees
Posted in Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, P, RP, SP, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Thursday, February 28th, 2008
Brandon Funston of Yahoo Sports put together his list of the top 10 rookies to make a fantasy impact this year. We’ve summarized the basic information for you. He says he didn’t include Kosuke Fukudome even though he’s technically a rookie, and if he had Fukudome would be in his top 3.
- 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos, OF
If CoCo Crisp is out of the picture and Ellsbury bats lead off, could have 40 SBs and 100+ runs
- 2. Clay Buchholz, Bos, SP
Will get babied by BoSox for 125-150 IP, 10 wins, and a k/ip
- 3. Joba Chamberlain, NYY, RP
Will be starting in the bullpen, limited to 140 IP or less, probably will make the rotation at some point
- 4. Evan Longoria, TB, 3rd Base
Funston predicts .280/20/75/75/0, if he starts
- 5. Geovany Soto, ChC, Catcher
Probably won’t be a top 100 fantasy player, but could have good value if drafted late
- 6. Joey Votto, Cin, 1st Base
Stuck behind 38 year old Scott Hatteberg but could get 20 HR and 10-15 steals with 450 ABs
- 7. Andy LaRoche, LAD, 3B
It’s between him and Nomar Garciaparra for the starting 3B role, has 20-25 hr power if he gets the job
- 8. Jay Bruce, Cin, OF
Norris Hopper/Ryan Freel will limit his chances of starting in the majors, but with the talent he has he should be up before the All-Star break
- 9. Colby Rasmus, StL, OF
Could be a 20/20 guy if he surpasses one of the current outfielders: Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel, or Ryan Ludwick
- 10. Ian Kennedy, NYY, SP
Has held hitters to under .190 in 168 minor league innings. With the Yankees bat support he could reach double digit wins.
Tags: Andy LaRoche, baseball prospects, Baseball Sleepers, Clay Buchholz, Colby Rasmus, Evan Longoria, Evan Lonoria, Fantasy Sleepers, Geovany Soto, Ian Kennedy, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Kosuke Fukudome, MLB Prospect News, MLB Prospects
Posted in 1B, 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, 3B, Andy LaRoche, C, Cardinals Prospects, Clay Buchholz, Colby Rasmus, Cubs Prospects, Dodgers Prospects, Evan Longoria, Geovany Soto, Ian Kennedy, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jay Bruce, Joba Chamberlain, Joey Votto, Kosuke Fukudome, OF, RP, Rays Prospects, Red Sox Prospects, Reds Prospects, SP, Yankees Prospects | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
This post marks our new feature, the “Daily Pepper”. In this feature, we will quickly cover a handful of prospects under one post. Pepper is that game we all used to play as a pre-game warm up: One person hits quick grounders and liners to a group of fielders standing close by, who then promptly throw the ball back to the hitter, who then hits it back to the fielders… It’s pretty much the same thing right?
Tags: , Andy Pettitte, Cubs, Geovany Soto, Giants, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, John Bowker, Josh Donaldson, Luke Hochevar, MLB Prospects, Philip Hughes, Royals, Yankees
Posted in C, Chris Lubanski, Cubs Prospects, Daily Pepper, Geovany Soto, Giants Prospects, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, John Bowker, Josh Donaldson, Luke Hochevar, OF, P, RP, Royals Prospects, SP, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Sunday, February 24th, 2008
Joba overshadowed his much more seasoned pitching counterparts on Friday during his first batting practice, drawing the loudest cheers from the crowd according to the NY Post. Joba went up against Hideki Matsui, Jose Molina, Jason Lane and Eric Duncan and exclusively used his change-up, a pitch that new Yankees manager Joe Girardi endorses, according to the NY Daily News. With Girardi on his side, it’s pretty obvious he won’t be setting up for Rivera for long. The NY Times reports he’ll pitch alongside Ian Kennedy against the Philly’s on Friday.
Posted in Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, P, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Posted in Cardinals Prospects, Colby Rasmus, Evan Longoria, Jay Bruce, Joba Chamberlain, Rays Prospects, Red Sox Prospects, Reds Prospects, Top 5 Prospects, Yankees Prospects | No Comments »
